Through her portrayal of Solène Marchand, Robinne Lee chronicles a middle-aged woman’s journey of self-discovery. Lee documents how Solène finds a deeper understanding of herself through her relationship with a younger man who supports her passion for art and offers her the opportunity to subvert society’s view of aging women. As Solène and Hayes’s relationship develops, Solène confronts society’s disregard of older women and embraces the power of her own choice.

Lee positions Solène as an advocate for women artists. Passionate about representation for women in the art world, Solène begins the novel a divorcee who still struggles to adapt to single life after the dissolution of her marriage to her unsupportive ex-husband Daniel. Dedicated to her work, Solène chooses to end her marriage and abandon society’s expectations for her as a mother who prioritizes her children over her career. Solène maintains a deep commitment to her work, which forces her to sacrifice time with her daughter Isabelle. By beginning the novel after Solène’s divorce, Lee focuses The Idea of You on the exploration of Solène’s sexual liberation.

While Solène is shown acting against society’s expectation for mothers and middle-aged women, she has also internalized the lack of desirability attributed to older women whom society deems unattractive.